The Database page features an integrated Google Sheet with all the key information on each flashlight I’ve tested. You can sort, scroll and search this database with ease. Click here to learn how you can access the database.

Below are some simple instructions on how to interpret the results, to get the most out of this resource.

Spreadsheet Information

The spreadsheet contains many columns of information about each flashlight, with as many rows as there are flashlights in the dataset. Naturally, this makes for more columns and rows than can be displayed on a typical screen.

The API will do the best it can to match as much information as possible to your screen size (i.e., how many columns, and how wide). You can always change your screen resolution or web browser zoom settings to help (i.e., Ctrl- or Ctrl+ on your keyboard) – the table will refresh automatically to adjust. But I have preset some options for easier viewing – and there are dedicated controls to allow you to customize the display further.

User Controls

At the top of the page, you will see a header that gives you some key options:

By default, I’ve chosen 10 entries to display per page. You can change this, but it’s a good trade-off to limit load times.

You can hide select columns if you like, using the “Column Visibility” button. But more significantly, you can export/copy/print the entire dataset,or your specific query, through the buttons on the right. This allows you to keep a local copy of the database for your own purposes.

Another key feature here is the Search option. Although you can sort the results by column in the table below – and it is pre-sorted by maker and model – the Search option is your best bet to find individual flashlights.

Column Organization

To explain why you want to do that, let’s look at the column organization:

I explain each of these column headings below. They key point right now is that the database is by default pre-sorted by Maker (descending), followed by Model (ascending) – as shown by the purple arrow heads above. If you click on any of the gray arrow heads, you will re-sort the entire dataset by that column (and only that column). Note that the end user cannot multiply select columns to sort, so you will not be able to easily separate out groups if you re-sort.

This is why you are better off using the search feature to narrow your selection – the search results will display with the multiple sort criteria by default. So if you search “PD35” for example, all the Fenix PD35 flashlight entries will be displayed in the proper sort order (i.e., by lowest output to highest).

Please note that there are many more columns available than can be displayed across a typical computer or phone screen width. All the additional columns that cannot be displayed will be available to you as an open-menu feature next to the flashlight. For example:

If you click on the green “+” symbol, it will open up to show you the data for this flashlight from the missing columns, as shown below:

In the case above, the last six columns were cut off, so the info is provide in the pull-out menu. If you are reading this on a mobile device, a lot more column info will be presented here. Press on the red “-” to close to menu.

Column Descriptions

So what do all the columns mean?

Maker: This is the flashlight manufacturer.

Model: This is the specific model number.

Emitter: This is the emitter version tested here.

Mode: This is the particular output mode of the flashlight, using the manufacturer’s terminology (i.e., Hi, Max or Turbo is typically the brightest level).

Spec Lumens: This is the reported lumen output according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Estimated Lumens: This is the estimated lumen output as measured in lightbox, according to my calibration standard.

Beam Intensity: This is the directly measured beam intensity in candelas, as per my ANSI FL-1 standards page. Typically only reported for the highest output level of the light, at time of activation (0 secs) and at the FL-1 standard (30 secs).

Beam Distance: This is the computed beam distance from my measured beam intensity, adjusted to 0.25 lux as described on my ANSI FL-1 standards page. This is typically the best measure to compare the relative “throw” of different lights, and is displayed at the FL-1 standard of 30 secs post activation.

PWM Freq: Indicates if Pulse Width Modulation is present on constant output modes, and if so at what frequency. For flashing modes, this as the actual frequency (in Hz). Directly measured with a sound-card oscilloscope.

Strobe Freq: As the name implies, any strobe modes actually measured in Hz.

Noise Freq: Sometimes lights can exhibit low intensity, high frequency circuit “noise” in their output, detectable as regular oscillations in output on my oscilloscope setup. This is typically invisible to the naked eye (although I will note in the review if there is any visible flicker).

Charging Rate: If the light (or battery) features USB-based charging, this is the measured maximum charging rate from a nearly depleted battery. I typically measure these below and above 3.0 V resting voltage, as many manufacturers use a different charging rate on heavily depleted cells (i.e., < 3.0 V) for battery safety and longevity.

Parasitic Drain: If the light has a stand-by electronic current drain (common with electronic switches), this is directly measured and reported here.

Weight w/o battery: Actual measurement of the weight of the flashlight without the battery.

Weigh with battery: Actual measurement with the bundled battery included.

CCT (K): Correlated colour temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin. See my Emitter Measures page for more information.

Duv: Tint, as measured by a change (delta) in the standard hue-saturation chromaticity coordinate system (Duv). See my Emitter Measures page for more information.

CRI: Colour Rendering Index (CRI, or Ra), based on an average of test colour samples (TCS). See my Emitter Measures page for more information.

… And with that, have fun exploring the the Database!